Fire extinguisher



.July 1o, 1951 S. BOAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed May 14, 1949 Patented`luly 10, 1951 FIRE EXTINGUISHER Stewart Boal, Winnetka, Ill., assignorto Randolph Laboratories, Inc.,

ration of Illinois Chicago, Ill., a corpo- Application May 14, 1949,Serial N0. 93,325

4 Claims. l

The present invention relates to flre extinguishers of the typeemploying carbon dioxide and particularly to a fire extinguisher inwhich is embodied a novel valve assembly with siphon tube which canreadily and easily be removed from the valve housing. Regulations of theInterstate Commerce Commission now require that re extinguishers besubjected to a hydrostatic test every ve years. As this has requiredremoval of the valve mechanism which necessitates the removal of theentire valve housing from the cylinder to secure access to the valvemechanism, it will be appreciated that considerable diculty isencountered in removing the valve housing, generally constructed ofbrass, from the steel cylinder, container or tank of such priorextinguishers after a period of ve years.

It is therefor an object of the present invention to provide a novelvalve unit that is bodily and easily removable from the valve housingwithout disturbing the threaded connection between the valve housing andthe steel cylinder which rigidly joins these parts and seals againstleakage therebetween.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of' a novelvalve unit assembly that may be quickly removed or lifted bodily from acored opening in the valve housing along with the siphon tube. Thisremoval of the novel valve unit may be accomplished Without disturbingthe assembly of its valve housing in the container or tank or the sealtherebetween.

'I'he present invention further comprehends a novel combined hood andtrigger and its mounting, thus making for simplicity of structure andsavings in manufactur as well as greater strength inherent in the singletrigger and hood.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a removablevalve structure a straight line assembly with the outlet nozzle, horn,handle and trigger all lying in substantially the same plane andalignment, whereby to facilitate use of the extinguisher and permitaccurate direction of the discharged stream upon a ire.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel form ofvalve housing which carries all of the operative parts, and having apart on the housing extended to form a handle grip for handling orcarrying the extinguisher.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity,eiciency, economy and ease oi assembly and operation, and such furtherobjects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear andare inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination andarrangement of parts accompanying drawing, and while there is showntherein a` preferred embodiunderstood that the same is susceptible ofmodification and change, and com prehends other details, arrangements ofparts, features and constructions without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the ilre extinguisher.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged View partly in vertical cross sectionand partly in side elevation, of the upper portion of the rireextinguisher and more particularly the valve assembly and associatedparts.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the valve housing and triggerand showing the position and arrangement of the relief port.

Referring more in the drawing, there is provided a cylinder or containerI for holding a fire extinguishing' medium under pressure, such ascarbon dioxide or the like. The cylinder or container is generally madeof steel or other metal of substantial tensile strength and thickness towithstand the pressure involved. Threaded into the upper portion of thecylinder or container Iv is a valve housing 2 preferably made of brassor the like, and cored to provide a vertical aperture 3 which extendscompletely therethrough but being slightly enlarged at the upper portionthereof to permit ready insertion and assembly of a valve unit or insert4, as well as its ready removal or replacement when the occasionrequires.

The valve insert 4 comprises a threaded body part 5 externally threadedat 6 for detachable mounting in the enlarged upper bore of the valvehousing. This threaded body part is provided with a vertical bore 'I anda transverse or lateral bore 8 aligned with a lateral bore or passage 9for passage of the extinguishing uid. The part 5 at its longer end isreduced in diameter: or cross section to provide a tubular extension IIhaving an enlarged vertically arranged bore I2 aligned with and openinginto the vertical bore l. This tubular extension I I is internallythreaded at its lower end I3 to receive a threaded plug I4 which in turncarries a depending siphon tube I5 extending into the contents of thecontainer or tank I.

The plug I4 is provided with an upwardly projecting part having stepperreductions I6 and I1. the reduction I6 having transverse openingsparticularly to the disclosure or ports I8 and I9 therethrough open atall times to the contents o ff` the siphon tube I5, and the reduction I1providing a sleeve-like bearing or guide for the \depending stem 2l of avalve plunger 22, This valve plunger carries a sealing ring or gasket 23held in a cupped recess in the upper portion thereof by a bolt or othersecuring means 24 having an upper seat 25 projecting upwardly into thevertical bore 1. To provide a most effective seal against the passage ofthe iluid in the extinguishing system, the body part is provided with anannular depending valve seat 26 adapted to be engaged by the sealingring or gasket 23 when the valve is in its upper closed position.

As clearly disclosed in Fig. 2 the valve plunger 22 is spring-biased tcclosed position by a relatively heavy coil spring 21 seating at itslower end against a shoulder 28 provided at the stepped reduction on theplug I4, and at its upper end this coil spring seats against a shoulder29 on the underside of the head of the movable valve plunger 22 andtending to force the sealing ring or gasket into closed, sealingposition.

To unseat the valve plunger, there is provided a stem or plunger rod 3llongitudinally movable in a threaded plug 32 received in a threadedopening in the upper enlarged end of the body part 5 and provided with asealing ring or gasket 33 for sealing against leakage about the stem orplunger rod 3|. The lower end of this stem or rod is aligned with andbears against the upper end of the seat or projection 25, whereby aforce applied to the upper end of the stem or rod 3| is transmitted tothe valve plunger, and if sufficient, depresses the latter to unseat thevalve seal and permit passage of the iluid under pressure from theinterior of the cylinder or container I, upwardly through the Siphontube I5, through the openings or ports I8 and I9 and into the spaceprovided in the bore I2 between the upstanding bearing or guide I1, thenbetween the valve seat 26 and the sealing ring or gasket 23, into thevertical bore 1, lateral bore 8 and outwardly through the bore 9 into analigned but reduced passage 34 in a nipple 35 threaded into a threadedextension 38 at the forward part of the valve housing 2.

The nipple 35 is provided with a plurality of laterally opening, reducedports 31 to provide against recoil upon the liberation of theextinguishing duid under pressure into an enlarged chamber 38 within thehollow nozzle 39 provided with a discharge port 48. The nozzle isthreaded onto the threaded extension 36 and at the rear abuts andrigidly retains the internal annular end ange 4I of a discharge horn 42in centered, operative position. In larger installations, it may bedesirable to attach a hose or tube of any suitable length to thethreaded extension 36 and provide the end of this hose or tube with adischarge horn.

To actuate the stem or plunger rod 3I, there is provided thereabove acombined hood and thumb-actuating member or lever 43 fulcrumed orpivotally mounted adjacent its forward end upon a cross pin 44 disposedin the valve housing 2, and at the rear end formed to provide a trigger45. As the forward end 46 of the hood is disposed adjacent the uppersurface 41 of the valve housing -2, it will be seen that upward movementof the trigger is limited by contact of the end,46 with the surface 41.A handle 48 for carrying or transporting the fire extinguisher ispreferably formed as an integral part of the valve housing 2 and isprovided with finger grips 49. This handle is disposed in verticalalignment with the trigger 45 whereby the user can readily depress thetrigger while carrying the extinguisher about, causing the hood 43 todepress the stem of plunger rod 3I and unseat the valve plunger 22against compression of the coil spring 21, whereby to permit thecontents of the container to be discharged under pressure through theport 40 in the nozzle 39.

For locking the trigger 45 against accidental discharge, I have providedan aperture 5I through which a locking pin or the like 52 may beinserted, which locking pin bears against the top shoulder of thehousing 2 and when in place prevents downward movement of the trigger 45until the pin 52 is withdrawn prior to operation of the extinguisher. Toprevent loss or accidental misplacing of this pin, there is provided alink chain 53 attached at one end to the locking pin, and at its otherend securely attached to the grip handle 48 by means of a bolt 54. Thecustomary safety cap or safety relief 55 for permitting the escape ofthe extinguishing uid is mounted on one side of the valve housing, justbelow the valve seat.

It will thus be seen that when the valve insert 4 is unscrewed from thevalve housing 2, the entire valve unit and Siphon tube may be completelyremoved for periodical testing or for other purposes, without disturbingthe connection or seal- -ing contact between the valve housing and thesteel cylinder.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim: 1. In a re extinguisher ofthe type having a cylinder for holding fluid under pressure, a valvehousing attached to said cylinder and provided with a vertical bore ofuniform cross section through the greater portion of its length andenlarged at its upper end, and a valve assembly insertable in the boreas a completely assembled unit and having threaded engagement with saidvalve housing for ready attachment and removal as a unit without removalor disconnection of the valve housing, said assembly comprising athreaded valve body having an enlarged threaded part, a dependingtubular extension and a valve seat all integral, lateral openings insaid body for the passage of fluid therethrough, a passageway in saidassembly adjacent said openings, a second passageway above the valveseat, lateral ports connected to said last mentioned passageway andconnected with a transverse bore in the housing, a discharge hornconnected to said last mentioned bore, a spring-biased valve in thetubular extension of the valve body, a threaded plug in the lower end ofthe tubular extension, a siphon tube removably attached to and carriedby said threaded plug, a plunger for actuating the Valve, and a hoodmember pivotally attached to said housing and bearing on the top of saidplunger and provided with a thumbactuated trigger for actuating thevalve.

2. In a re extinguisher of the type having a cylinder for holding fluidunder pressure, a valve housing attached to said cylinder and providedwith a vertical bore, and a valve assembly insertable in the bore andhaving threaded engagement with said valve housing and assembled thereinand removed therefrom as a unit without disturbing the valve housing andits attachment to the cylinder, said assembly comprising a springbiasedvalve, a threaded valve plug having an enlarged threaded part, adepending tubular extension and an integral valve seat with the valvelongitudinally movable in the tubular extension into and out of sealingcontact with the valve seat, lateral openings in said plug for thepassage of fluid therethrough, a passageway in said assembly adjacentsaid openings, a second passage- Way above the valve seat, lateral portsconnected to said last mentioned passageway land connected with atransverse bore in the housing, discharge means connected to said lastmentioned bore, a removable plug mounted in the end of said tubularextension, a siphon tube carried by said last mentioned plug, a plungerfor actuating the valve, and a hood member pivotally attached to saidhousing and bearing on the top of said plunger and provided with athumb-actuated trigger for actuating the valve.

3. In a lire extinguisher of the type having a container for anextinguishing :uld maintained under pressure, a valve housing rigidlyassembled on the container and provided with an integral rigid handle atone end, a vertical bore extending completely therethrough and ahorizontal bore for the discharge of the fluid, said vertical bore beingenlarged adjacent its upper end, a valve assembly bodily inserted intothe vertical bore and bodily removable therefrom for inspection orreplacement with the valve housing maintained assembled on thecontainer, said valve assembly including a valve plug having an enlargedpart, a depending tubular part and a valve seat all received in thevertical bore with the enlarged part threaded in the enlarged portion ofthe bore and having a ange in sealing contact with a shoulder in thebore, a spring-biased valve in the valve plug, a removable plug in thedepending tubular part and having an annular projection carrying thevalve, a siphon tube carried by the removable plug, a plunger foractuating the valve,

and a thumb-actuated trigger pivotally mounted upon the housing inalignment with the handle for actuating the plunger and valve assembly.

4. In a re extinguisher of the type having a. cylinder for holding ailuid under pressure, a valve housing attached to said cylinder, and aunitary valve assembly inserted into or removed from the housing as aself-contained unit with the valve housing maintained attached to thecylinder and said assembly having threaded engagement with said valvehousing when in assembled, operative position, said valve assemblycomprising a valve body carrying the entire assembly and having anenlarged threaded part, a depending tubular extension and an integralvalve seat, a valve disposed in the tubular extension and spring-biasedto closed position with the valve seat, a plunger for actuating thevalve to open position, a plug mounted in the lower end of the tubularextension and at its upper end carrying the valve for sliding movement,a siphon tube carried by and removable with the plug and valve body, anda hood member pivotally attached to the upper end of said housing andhaving an extension at one end forming a trigger for actuating theplunger and valve.

STEWART BOAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent: ,K

UNITED STATES PATENTS

